European Serin

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Alpes Maritimes, France • Dec 2010

Bird name: European Serin
Latin: Serinus serinus
Other: Serin • Serin cini (Fr) • Verzellino (It) • verdecillo (Es) • Girlitz (De)
Family: Fringilliadae • Serins
Range: Central Europe, north Africa

The Serin is a small yellow bird, with very small bill and streaked flanks. It is the smallest of the Finches and closely related to the Canary.

At this time of year, many birds suddenly become more visible. More have migrated to the south coast for the winter, there is less foliage cover while at the same time food is scarce and needed to survive the cold weather.

With the Serin above, I saw Black Redstarts, Wrens, Alpine Accentors, a Kestrel and Common Buzzard in a very short space of time.